Did you know that Colonial Americans boiled hog fat to add to their soaps? Thankfully, our cleaning products have evolved quite a bit, with the first commercial laundry detergent sold in the 1930s.

With so many detergents out there claiming to be eco-friendly, how can we differentiate between them? To start, should we be using powder or liquid detergents? Powder form is generally better: they are more efficient to ship and have a longer shelf life, reducing the need to add preservatives. Liquids may contain more surfactants, some of which are petroleum-based and can be harmful for fish (makes it harder for fish to breathe). Powdered detergents also have more eco-friendly cardboard packaging; however, they contain sodium sulphate, which isn’t great for septic systems.

More important than the form, though, is what’s inside your soap. Go for concentrated detergents that are phosphate free, biodegradable, and designed to work well in cold water (on average, 80-85 percent of the total energy used in washing goes to heating up the water!). Avoid bleach, dyes, and brighteners; phosphates; sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate; nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs); and fragrances (which could hide a cocktail of dozens of harmful ingredients!) — many of these chemicals are toxic to aquatic life. For the more ambitious out there, you can even make your own detergent with some baking soda, castile soap, and washing soda! For more info on specific detergents, check out these guides from the EPA and EWG.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) cleaners are great not just for laundry but also for around the house. Why bother making your own cleaners? It saves money – you can make DIY cleaners for less than a dollar, whereas most store-bought products cost $5-15 per bottle. It’s simple, and much better for the environment — they won’t contain toxic chemicals (fragrance, sodium borate, ammonium, glycol ethers, sodium laureth sulfates, formaldehyde, and artificial colors/dyes, just to name a few), which are only partly removed by wastewater treatment plants.

So how do you make these simple, eco-friendly cleaners? Baking soda and/or vinegar are all you need to start. Want scented all-purpose cleaner? Combine white vinegar, water, lemon rind, and rosemary sprigs, pour into a spray bottle, shake, and let infuse for a week before using (just don’t use acidic cleaners on granite). Cleaning kitchen counters, appliances, or the inside of your refrigerator? Mix 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart warm water, then apply with a damp cloth! And after cleaning a surface, let it sit for 4-10 minutes (this allows the product to get rid of the germs) and then rinse with water (otherwise it creates a sticky surface for new germs to land on).

See https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/cleaning-products-tools/homemade-cleaners/ for more “recipes,” from air fresheners to glass cleaners to carpet stain removers!